The Rarer Metals and their Alloys3

Abstract

THE study of metals possesses an irresistible charm for us, quite apart from its vast national importance. How many of us made our first scientific experiment by watching the melting of lead, little thinking that we should hardly have done a bad life's work if the experiment had been our last, provided we had only understood its full significance. How few of us forget that we wistfully observed at an early age the melting in an ordinary fire of some metallic toy of our childhood; and the experiment has, like the “Flat iron for a farthing,” in Mrs. Ewing's charming story, taken a prominent place in literature which claims to be written for children. Hans Andersen's fairy tale, for instance, the “History of a Tin Soldier,” has been read, by children of all ages and of most nations. The romantic incidents of the soldier's eventful career need not be dwelt upon; but I may remind you that at its end he perished in the flames of an ordinary fire, and all that could subsequently be found of him was a small heart-shaped mass. There is no reason to doubt the perfect accuracy of the story recorded by Andersen, who at least knew the facts, though his statement is made in popular language. No analysis is given of the tin soldier; in a fairy tale it would have been out of place, but the latest stage of his evolution is described, and the record is sufficient to enable us to form the opinion that he was composed of both tin and lead, certain alloys of which metals will burn to ashes like tinder. His uniform was doubtless richly ornamented with gold lace. Some small amount of one of the rarer metals had probably—for on this point the history is silent—found its way into his constitution, and by uniting with the gold, formed the heart-shaped mass which the fire would not melt, as its temperature could not have exceeded 1000°; for we are told that the golden rose, worn by the artiste who shared the soldier's fate, was also found unmelted. The main point is, however, that the presence of one of the rarer metals must have endued the soldier with his singular endurance, and in the end left an incorruptible record of him.